Jigging conveyer



June 28, 932. T. B, WILKINSON IIGGNG CONVEYER Filed May 31, 1.930

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ATTOR NEYS Patented June 28, 1932 UNITED STATES TOM BIGGS WILKINSON, OF BLACKSTON, ARNSIDE, ENGLAND JIGGING CON VEYER Application filed May 31, 1930, Serial No. 458,244, and in Great Britain June 18, 1929.

This invention relates to jigging conveyers, and particularly relates to supporting cradles therefor of the kind having at each side of the troughing parallel disposed inclined surfaces or members spaced apart for the reception of Varo'lling member mounted on a transverse axle or bar fixed to and carrying the conveyer troughing, such rolling members co-operatr ing with the respective spaced and inclined i@ surfaces in such manner that in its reciprocation the troughing is constrained to move bodily in the direction determined by the inclined surfaces or members. In the known construction of jigging con- ;'5 veyer provided with cradles of the kind specied, the cradles are arranged singly at suitable intervals in the length of the troughing and generally only one cradle is provided for each length or section of the troughing. The disadvantage of this known construction is that the separate cradles have to be set or packed up with great care and accuracy so that the inclined path of the rolling members shall be at the requisite angle with respect to the horizontal axis of the troughing, which angle generally is very critical. Furthermore, when the cradle is carried over ground of an uneven or irregular nature, it is very diiiicult to ensure that the cradles will not work loose or become displaced so that one end sinks in relation to the other, which would have the eiect of altering the angular relationship between the inclines and the horizontal axis of the troughing.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide an improved construction of cradles for supporting the troughing of jigging conveyers whereby the disadvantages referred to are obviated.

According to the present invention, in a 'igging conveyer carried on cradles of the iind specified, the cradles are arranged in pairs, each pair of cradles being mounted upon a common base member so that the angular relationship between the inclined surfaces or members and the horizontal axis of the troughing which is carried by pairs of rolling members co-operating with the pair of cradles, is definitely fixed and is rendered independent of any irregularity in the ground over which the conveyer is carried, or in the setting of the base member upon which the pair of cradles is mounted. Obviously, if the ground at one end of the base member sinks or is disposed at a lower level than the 56 ground at the other end of the base member, the relative positions of the cradles and the troughing will remain unaltered, inasmuch as the end of the base member of the cradle which is unsupported by the ground will be 6G suspended from the troughing by the engagement of the rolling members with the upper guide members of the cradles. Each pair of cradles preferably is associated with a comparatively short length of troughing interposed between adjacent and longer sections of troughing, the short length of troughing conveniently being half the standard length of a section. Apart from the convenience of transport resulting from this arrangement, it has been found that the jigging action is thereby rendered more effective, inasmuch as fully effective jigging is obtained for the whole length of the short section carried by the pair of cradles, whereas in the known Y construction it was found that effective jigging action was often localized at a. comparatively short length of the troughing immediately above the bar or axle fitted with the rolling members co-operating with the so cradle.

rlhe invention is hereinafter described with reference to 'the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, in which Figure l is a side elevation showing a section of troughing of a jigging conveyer provided with supporting cradles according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a cradle; and

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3 3, Figure 2, drawn to an enlarged scale.

The inclined surfaces a of the cradles A preferably are constituted by four parallel bars between which the rolling members B,l l consisting of balls or rollers, work. Such surfaces may be inclined in both directions, where a reverse motion of the troughing is desired, but preferably are inclined in one direction only, or mainly in one direction, as

plan view of the supporting ssi shown in Figure l, a short reversely inclined portion being preferably provided to act as a cushion should any breakage occur, which would permit the troughing to fall back freely.

The balls B of each pair of cradles roll freely but with only small clearance between the parallel bars referred to and each ball is located in a suitable hole in the vertical portion c of an axle plate C extending downwards between the upper and lower pair of bars, the axle plates C being preferably bolted to strengthening plates l which are fixed to the underside of the troughing D. Thus, the balls are confined between and may engage either the upper or the lower parallel bars.

The pairs of cradles A are mounted on a common rectangular frame or base member E, as shown in Fig. 2, preferably formed of angle iron, which frame or base member may be strengthened by transverse members e at each end thereof.

Preferably the cradles A are mounted below a short length or section of troughing,

which may be of half the standard length,

the cradles being arranged so that they are intermediate the ends of such short length which is bolted between two longer or standard lengths, the conveyer thus being constituted by alternately arranged long and short lengths of troughing, each short length being mounted upon a pair of cradles in accordance with the invention.

If necessary, the short lengths of troughing may be connected together by tie ropes or cables extending beneath the longer or standard sections.

The conveyer may be operated by any suitable means, but particularly effective re- O sults are secured by using the driving mechanism according to my copending United States application Ser. No. 458,243 filed herewith.

It will be understood that the invention is 45' not limited to the particular details of construction hereinbefore described. Thus, in place of the balls B, suitably shaped rollers may be used, such rollers being mounted upon the ends of axles extending between the inner pairs of the parallel bars.

What I claim is 1. A supporting cradle for jigging conveyers comprising, in combination, a supporting base including a pair of frame members adapted to rest on the ground on opposite sides of the troughing of the conveyers; a pair of spaced cradles secured rigidly to and above each frame member, each pair of cradles extending longitudinally of the frame V parallel to each other; each cradle comprising upper and lower parallel tracks inclined at an angle to the frame member to which the cradle is secured.

2. A supporting cradle for jigging conveyers comprising, in combination, a pair of frame members adapted to rest on the ground on opposite sides of the troughing of the conveyer; a pair of cradles secured rigidly to and above each frame member, each pair of cradles extending longitudinally of the frame parallel to each other and in the same vertical plane; each cradle comprising upper and lower parallel tracks which for the major portion of their length are inclined at an angle to the frame member to which the cradle 'is secured and which have short portions inclined in the opposite direction.

3. A supporting cradle for jigging conveyers comprising, in combination, a base comprising a pair of longitudinal frame members and a pair of transverse members rigidly secured to both ends of the two frame members to form therewith a substantially rectangular ground-engaging structure; a pair of spaced cradles secured rigidly to and above each longitudinal frame members', eachpair of cradles extending longitudinally of the frame parallel to each other plane; each cradle comprising upper and lower parallel tracks having portions inclined at opposite angles with respect to the frame member to which the cradle is secured. 1

TOM BIGGS VILKINSON. 

